Effect of trochar site lidocaine on postoperative pain scoring and patient satisfaction after gynecologic laparoscopies – A randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of lidocaine infiltrated at trochar sites on postoperative pain scoring and patient satisfaction after gynecological laparoscopies.Methods160 infertile women scheduled for laparoscopy were randomized to have intraperitoneal lidocaine alone or intraperitoneal lidocaine combined with lidocaine infiltrated at trochar sites. Visual analog score (VAS) was used for assessment of pain severity at trochar sites, shoulder and global abdomen regions on the 1st and 7th postoperative days and verbal analog scoring was used to asses patient satisfaction.ResultsWomen who received intraperitoneal lidocaine alone showed significantly higher VAS scores at trochar site (3.2 ± 1.8 vs. 1.8 ± 1.6) and global abdominal region (3.4 ± 1.7 vs. 2.6 ± 1.6) on the 1st postoperative day. Shoulder pain scores did not show significant difference between the two groups. Patients who received intraperitoneal lidocaine combined with lidocaine infiltrated at the trochar sites reported higher satisfaction score with the overall postoperative care in the first 24 h.ConclusionThe combined use trochar sites and intraperitoneal lidocaine is superior to intraperitoneal lidocaine alone in managing postoperative pain after laparoscopic gynecological procedures. It leads to lower VAS at day 1 and day 7 postoperatively, less need for additional analgesics and higher patient satisfaction.